Bridle-bit.



' 'No. 880,901. PATENTED MAR. .3, 190a.

. J. A. MILLARD.

BRIDLB BIT.

APPLICATION FILED APEJZ. 1906.

' awuv/wlioz UNITED STTS JOHN AUSTIN MILLARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BRIDLE-BIT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JonN AUsTIN MIL- LARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Bridle- Bits; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in bridle bits, and more particularly to a curb bit.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character, of simple, practical and efficient construction, which will act as an ordinary bit until the animal becomes fractious or unruly, and then as a curb bit, and in which the second. set of reins for the usual curb bit is dispensed with.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved curb bit and its connections with the bridle and rein, and Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 2- 2 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings by numeral, 1. denotes my improved bit, having the usual curb 2 at its center, and transversely eX- tending vertical bars 3 at its ends. These bars 3 are connected by the usual curb chain 4 and to the lower ends of the side straps 5 of the head stall of a bridle of any form and construction, said bridle having the usual strap 6 to pass over the animals nose and the usual strap 7 to pass under its jaw. Formed upon the side bars 3, concentric with the bit 1, are open circular plates or portions 8, which have formed in them vertically extending arc-shaped slots 9. In these slots 9, in the inner or rear portions of the plates 8, are mounted grooved rollers 10, which are connected, as shown at 11, to the forward ends of coil springs 12. The latter are suspended in a horizontal position, and have their rear ends connected, as shown at 13, to grooved pulleys 14 which engage and run upon the curved portions of semi circular or D-shaped loops or eyes 15, to which the usual reins 16 are connected.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 12, 1906.

Instead of employing the coil springs 12, any suitable elastic or spring devices may be used between the parts 11 and 13. Also mounted to travel upon the curved portions of the loops oreyes 15 are curved rollers 17 which are connected, as shown at 18, tothe rear ends of straps or connections 19, which are made longitudinally adjustable by means of buckles or the like 20, and which have their forward ends adjustably connected to the inner ends of the side bars 3 of the bit, by being passed through any one of a longitudinal series of openings 22 in said ends, as clearly shown in the drawings. spaced slots 22 provide for the changing of the bit from a severe bit to one of less severity and vice versa to adapt it for use with horses having tender or hard mouths as the case may be, for instance to render the bit less severe, the strap 19 is engaged with the upper slot whereby the leverage of the side bar 3 is reduced and the pull on the bit from this point would cause the curb 2 to bite with less severity than when applied from a lower slot nearer the end of the bar 3. The straps 1.9 hang normally loose, as shown in Fig. 1, the springs 12 serving to connect the reins to the bit, and the pull upon the reins being in the horizontal plane of the bit 1 and lengthwise of the curb 2, but when the animal becomes fractious or unruly so that the reins 16 are drawn upon to stretch the coil springs 12 beyond a predetermined point, the straps or connections 19 are drawn taut, so that the lower ends of the vertical bars 3 are swung rearwardly to throw the curb 2 to the angular position in the animals mouth.

By providing the grooved rollers 10, 14 and 17 in the grooves 9 and upon the curved portions of the loops or eyes 15, it will be seen that the parts will adapt themselves to operate in the most effective manner. The slots 9 also prevent the springs from dropping down against the side bars of the bit when not being drawn upon, and at the same time give enough room for change of position when the curb is thrown into operation by an excessive strain upon the springs. The adjustable connections 20 in the straps 19 permit the same to be adjusted, so that the curb will be thrown into operation when the coiled springs have been stretched beyond a predetermined tension.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

These the construction, use and advantages of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters- Patent, is

A bit having a curved portion, a side bar I fixed on the end of the bit and having a transverse extension provided with a vertically disposed arcuate slot arranged concentric with the bit, a rein carrying a terminal loop having a substantially semi-circular curved portion, connecting members movably engaged respectively with the slot and the curved portion of the loop, an extensible spring terminally engaged with said connecting members, said side bar having its lower portion, beneath the plane of the bit, provided with a plurality of vertically spaced openings, and a normally slack curb-operating strap having its forward end detachably engaged with one of said openings and its rear end movably connected with said loop, said curb strap being adjustable in length and adapted for engagement with different ones of the openings in the side bar for varying the curbing action of the bit and having its forward end secured against accidental movement longitudinally of the side bar.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN AUSTIN MILLARD. Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. SMITH, WM. A. HOAR. 

